Statement on Potential IRS Changes to Pursue Criminal Investigations Against Charitable Nonprofits 

WASHINGTON — The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that the administration is preparing to make significant changes at the IRS that could allow the agency to pursue criminal investigations of nonprofit organizations more easily. The following statement is attributable to Kathleen Enright, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations and Dr. Akilah Watkins, President and CEO of Independent Sector.

The charitable sector has long supported fair oversight to ensure that we live up to our collective duty: helping strengthen communities through generosity, within the bounds of the law. Any attempt to use the Internal Revenue Service to target lawful work simply because political leaders disfavor the work or the organization is an affront to our long-established First Amendment right to free speech and expression, including expression through charitable giving. That freedom has endured through political administrations of varying ideologies precisely because it is a core tenet of American society. Together, as a united sector, we will continue to protect this freedom no matter which party is in office, and no matter which causes fall under political scrutiny.